Claiming the City: A Global History of Workers' Fight for Municipal Socialism

Shelton Stromquist's book "The Rise of Municipal Socialism" has won the 2023 ILHA Book of the Year Award for labor history. It explores how and why cities became crucibles for municipal socialism in the 19th century, challenging the class power of urban elites and the centralizing tendencies of national social-democratic movements. The book showcases the stories of local activists and their social-democratic movements in cities around the world, inspiring activists to fight for the right of cities to govern themselves.

Format: Hardback
Length: 880 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2023
Publisher: Verso Books

Winner of the International Labor History Association (ILHA) 2023 Book of the Year Award for labor history, Shelton Stromquist's groundbreaking work explores the origins of municipal socialism, a trans-local socialist movement that emerged in cities around the world after 1890. Stromquist delves into the historical context, examining how cities were transformed by mass migration and industrialization, leading to social and economic challenges. Through vivid accounts of local activists and their social-democratic movements in cities such as Broken Hill, Christchurch, Malmö, Bradford, Stuttgart, Vienna, and Hamilton, OH, the book showcases how municipal socialism emerged as a response to these challenges. Urban workers, facing inadequate economic security, poor public amenities, and inadequate housing, sought to democratize cities and reclaim the wealth they had created. This new politics challenged the class power of urban elites and the centralizing tendencies of national social-democratic movements.

Municipal socialist ideas continue to inspire activists today, advocating for the right of cities to govern themselves and address the unique challenges they face. The book's insights into the origins and evolution of municipal socialism offer valuable perspectives on urban politics and social change, contributing to our understanding of the past and shaping the future of urban communities.

Weight: 948g
Dimension: 241 x 166 x 52 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839767777